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The Open Storefront Project

Published on Oct 17, 2016Cynthia Dyck

a new initiative from ON THE BOARDS

Thanks
to a new partnership with Brainsport, ON THE BOARDS is celebrating the
inaugural location – 704 Broadway – of The Open
Storefront Project: an empty
storefront handed over to performing artists for the creation of theatre – and for the first time, the public can
watch it happening!

“This is a win-win-win
situation,” says Brian Michasiw owner of Brainsport. “I want to sublease my storefront. And rather than it sitting dark and empty, I now
have a place that is active and drawing attention. The business street wins because there is
something new and interesting happening in an otherwise empty spot on the
street. The artists win because they
have a place to work that is warm and safe, and the city wins because there is
more art to enjoy and a more vibrant business area.”

ON THE BOARDS (OTB) Executive Director, Cynthia Dyck, came up with the
concept to utilize unused storefronts for the city’s performing groups needing
spaces to rehearse their plays. “At OTB
we have been working with indie-theatres helping them put their shows on stage
at The Refinery for well over a decade. A
chronic problem is ad-hoc companies don’t have the means to pay for the space
they need for the required five or more weeks of rehearsal. This September, for instance, two indie
companies were rehearsing in their backyard garages. And only one was heated.”

“As relieved as I am to get these indie-companies into a heated
building, the real thrill is to be able to bring a different live-theatre experience
to people in Saskatoon. People will see
‘the other side’ of theatre.”

“The windows of these storefronts will literally and figuratively pull
back the curtain inviting passers-by to look in and watch what is
happening. We are going to expose a part
of theatre that is traditionally kept hidden, not keep onlookers out.”

The
Open Storefront Project is opening up new ways for the public to
engage in the performing arts happening in their community.